Hugh Honour

A study of the influence Romanticism exerts upon Western culture.

English summary: Neo-classicism is often misunderstood as a cold, pedantic, even bombastic artistic movement. The present volume seeks to rehabilitate Neo-classicism, explaining its esthetic, philosophical, and political implications, through the example of both famous and little-known artists from across Europe. French description: De tous les courants artistiques europeens, le neo-classicisme est sans doute celui sur lequel s'accumule le plus grand nombre de malentendus. Heureusement, depuis une trentaine d'annees, en France et a l'etranger, de nombreuses expositions ont ete consacrees a ce mouvement ou a ses plus grands heros. Malgre tout, les cliches ont la vie dure, selon lesquels le neo-classicisme serait un compose de froideur et de pedanterie, un art litteraire et grandiloquent. Hugh Honour en propose une rehabilitation passionnante, qui embrasse toutes les techniques artistiques. Au lieu d'offrir un survol chronologique scolaire, il explicite les enjeux esthetiques, philosophiques ou politiques, analyse quelques exemples cles, fait decouvrir des artistes singuliers et meconnus, qui partageaient des ideaux voisins d'un bout a l'autre de l'Europe, et rend justice a des genies tels que Ledoux, David ou Canova, dont il fait ressortir toutes les facettes.

Since its first publication this book has been hailed as the most comprehensive history of art ever published in a single volume. Presenting art history as an essential part of the development of humankind, it offers an authoritative, balanced and enlightening account, ranging from a statuette carved in central Europe some 30,000 years ago to the digital, video and installation art of the new millennium. The volume covers painting, mosaic, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, architecture and photography. Textiles, coins, pottery, enamels, gold and silver are also included. The scope is international, encompassing the arts of Asia, Africa and Oceania as well as Europe and the Americas. This Revised Seventh Edition expands the original coverage by embracing new developments in archaeology and art historical research, and in particular contemporary art historian Michael Archer has greatly expanded the authors' discussion of the art world over the past two decades, providing a new perspective on the latest developments shaping our cultural history. The insight, elegance and fluency that the authors bring to their text are complemented by 1459 superb illustrations, many of which are now in colour.

Need a handbook to your architect’s business or studies? Struggling with your latest DIY project? Interested in the art of architecture? This classic work, now in its fifth edition, covers every aspect of architecture and landscape architecture. Ranging from ancient times to contemporary trends, it adopts a truly international perspective, focussing on countries and cultures such as Coptic, Tibet and De Stijl. Without doubt, this is the standard work in the field. As reflected by its new title, 'The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture' has now been expanded to include recent developments in the field of landscape architecture. Full account has been taken, too, of the huge range of building traditions around the world. The text has been completely reset and all the illustrations redrawn. 'Immensely useful, succinct and judicious...this is a book rich in fact and accumulated wisdom.' The Times Literary Supplement

"This stylish and erudite thematic study of the influence Romanticism exerts upon Western culture and particularly the visual arts is the companion volume to Honour's equally valuable Neo-classicism.... The text is supported by a useful selection of illustrations Excellent footnotes and a good index. Finely produced, Romanticism will stimulate the graduate and inform the undergraduate." —Choice "An interpretation that rings true for our own time.... His approach to his vast subject is essentially cool, analytic and balanced This is a book that covers an immense amount of material with a freshness of touch." —John Russell, The New York Times "A book of great interest and quality which gives form to a subject that is often treated very vaguely." —Kenneth Clark

`It offers all that the visitor with a concern for beauty and for leisurely sight-seeing will require.' Financial Times`If ever a guidebook were designed to be read as literature it is Mr Honour's. Even those who know Venice welland love it well will add to their appreciation from this seemingly endless store of information.' Economist Offers all that the visitor with a concern for beauty and for leisurely sight-seeing will require. FINANCIAL TIMES The best guide book I have ever encountered... and a book I found it impossible not to read from beginning to end. OBSERVER There are few pleasanter ways of passing a summer's evening than sitting over a cup of coffee, and perhaps a glass of Aurum, in the Piazza San Marco. It is especially agreeable on those nights when the Venetian city band thunders away at some throbbingly romantic piece... And all the while the younger inhabitants parade around the square, chattering, flirting, quarrelling and staring at their visitors with that same unwinking gaze that Venetians have turned on their guests for the past five centuries. The facade of San Marco closes the scene in a glitter of golden mosaic and a bubbling of cupolas, while the great thick red campanile stretches up into the warm mothy darkness of the summer sky. Hugh Honour, it is clear, knows Venice exceptionally well and catches the rhythms of the city's life with unerring skill. His guide, with its winning blend of evocativedetail and precise information, spurs the reader to investigate Venice's wonders: Piazza San Marco is only the beginning of a journey into the heart of Venice and its history.